Has it been a year already since my colleagues and I witnessed our 10-minute plays produced at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, California?  Photos at: http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/coach-teresa-leyung-ryan-says-i-love-being-in-the-performing-arts-theater-world/

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan cheering for Redwood Writers, Playwrights, Lennie Dean, Linda Loveland Reid, 6th Street Playhouse!

http://www.6thstreetplayhouse.com/guides/season-201213/invited-artists/redwood-writers-10-minute-play-festival/

Redwood Writers has announced the seven winning playwrights of their 3nd Annual 10-Minute Play Contest.  Teaming up again this year with 6th Street Playhouse, all seven plays will be produced in an intimate setting in the 6th Street Studio Theatre, Santa Rosa, CA.
7 playwrights, 7 plays, 6 directors and 10 actors bring you this year’s delectable offerings.

Play Festival

Festivities of the Fest!

(Clockwise from left) Lynn Millar, Tony Sciullo, Darrell Grisham, Scott Lummer, Jean Wong, Kay Mehl Miller. (Jack Fender not pictured)

Click Here For Flyer

• Full production of the 10-Minute Plays! 7 playwrights, 7 plays, 6 directors and 10 actors bring you this year’s delectable offerings.
June 27-30, 2013 (Cost: $18)

• Staged Readings: Full-length plays written by the judges of this year’s 10-Minute Play Contest: June 2, June 8 & July 21 (Donations accepted)

• The 10-Minute Play–Taking It To the Next Level: Join internationally produced playwright and founding writer with PlayGround, Garret Jon Groenveld, in a two-hour workshop exploring the ins and outs of the 10-Minute Play. We’ll look at strategies to push your 10-Minute Play to the next level, delving into techniques that innovate with structure, character & dialogue. Stretch your writing muscles with in-class exercises & a follow-up discussion of what to do with the play once you’ve written it. June 29, 11 a.m. (Cost: $10)

• Audience Favorite: Cast your vote! You the audience will have the opportunity to vote for your favorite play; the winning playwright, director and cast will be awarded during the final event of the Fest. Award presented June 30 at Meet the Playwright.
(Free Event!)

• Meet the Playwrights, Q & A: Following the final performance of the 10-Minute Plays, the playwrights will participate in an audience Q&A. June 30 @ 4:30 p.m. (Free event!)

*For showtimes, please check the website at www.6thstreetplayhouse.com.

Lennie Dean

The 10-Minute Plays Recipient of Sonoma County Grant, Festival Director, Lennie Dean

Get the details!
To purchase tickets and for more 
information, visit our website at 
www.6thstreetplayhouse.com or 
call Box Office at (707) 523-4185 ext. 1.

The Plays:

• The Bucket by Jack Fender
• Crossroads by Darrell Grisham
• Starbucks on Broadway by Scott Lummer
• The Art of the Matter by Lynn Millar
• Intervention by Kay Mehl Miller
• Open House by Tony Sciullo
• Hot Water by Jean Wong

**************************

Maureen Studer’s invitation:

Welcome to 2013 Playwrights Festival.  Everyone loves playing to a full house.

The Sun in California

Into the Fire: The Sun Celebrates Personal Writing
Esalen Institute, Big Sur, California
October 25 – October 27, 2013 

The Sun is offering two full scholarships to writers who can make a strong case that they would benefit from this retreat but are unable to afford it. Scholarships cover lodging, meals, and tuition for the weekend.

Click here to apply for a scholarship online. You can also download and print a mail-in application form to complete by hand and return to us. Mail your application materials to:

The Sun magazine
Attn: Esalen Scholarships
107 North Roberson Street
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Application materials must be received by August 1, 2013.

We will notify applicants of our decision by September 2.

http://thesunmagazine.org/get_involved/events/25#scholarships

 Good luck to YOU!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

author of:

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the workbook)

Love Made of Heart (the mother-daughter novel used in college composition classes; book is archived at the San Francisco History Center)

Answer Me Now  (the award-winning short play)

and speeches advocating mental health and end violence against women and children

Click here for a list of Coach Teresa’s event.

http://writingcoachTeresa.com  for more resources.

Coach Teresa says: “Wear the dual hats of writer and promoter. Reach out, not stress out.”

Women Writers in Residence Program

Hedgebrook retreat for women writers is on Whidbey Island, about thirty-five miles northwest of Seattle, WA. Situated on 48-acres of forest and meadow facing Puget Sound, with a view of Mount Rainier, the retreat hosts women writers from all over the world for residencies of two to six weeks, at no cost to the writer. Residents are housed in six handcrafted cottages, where they spend their days in solitude – writing, reading, taking walks in the woods on the property or on nearby Double Bluff beach. In the evenings, they gather in the farmhouse kitchen to share a home-cooked gourmet meal, their work, their process and their stories. The Writers in Residence Program is Hedgebrook’s core program, supporting the fully-funded residencies of approximately 40 women writers at the retreat each year.

What is going on at East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD)? Is unfairness part of the vision or mission?

Thank you, EVERYONE,  for writing letters/emails to EBRPD board members and cc’ing our Negotiations Team at Local 2428.  Their addresses are listed at the end of this post. I’ve learned much from coworkers who have shared information at AFSCME Local 2428 meetings and at EBRPD board meetings during public comments.

Negotiations Team will be answering employees’ questions on Monday June 17th, 6:00– 8:00pm at Trudeau. Information is power. Information helps us plan. Then we vote to reject or accept the proposed contract from the district. Must vote in person on Wed, June 19 at Trudeau between 12pm and 8pm.

We the Employees Make East Bay Regional Parks Happen. AFSCME Local 2428 represents employees.

In his open letter (dated May 24, 2013)  to the East Bay Regional Park District (“EBRPD”) community, Board President John Sutter says: “ . . .because our employees, whether they be AFSCME Local 2428 Union Members, Police, Fire, Confidential, or Management, are the heart of our organization…”   Why is the latest proposed contract (presented to our Negotiations Team on June 5, 2013 after two mediation sessions) incongruous to sentiments expressed in his letter ? What is going on?

While the District Board Members and General Manager are visionaries (you can see accomplishments from Google Earth), We the Workers are also visionaries (you see our accomplishments from relationships we form with park visitors, trail users, volunteers, with each other, with ourselves).

Dear Coworkers, Volunteers, Neighbors, Family & Friends,

Thank you for being in my life.  This is my open letter to you and the community.

Something mysterious is happening at East Bay Regional Park District. You can help if you:

• * have used a trail or open space or visited a park (including Regional Parks Botanic Garden—that’s where I work half-time as a Senior Office Assistant)

or

• * are a property tax payer of Alameda County or Contra Costa County, CA

This is how YOU & I can help transform mystery into Healthy Parks Healthy People:

Look for fun events at the 2013 Literary Arts Stage, Fine Arts Galleria (area #4 on Fair Map), Expo Hall, at the San Mateo County Fair, San Mateo, CA  General Info on the San Mateo County Fair

**

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

author of:

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the workbook)

Love Made of Heart (the mother-daughter novel used in college composition classes; book is archived at the San Francisco History Center)

Answer Me Now  (the award-winning short play)

and speeches advocating mental health and end violence against women and children

Click here for a list of Coach Teresa’s event.

http://writingcoachTeresa.com  for more resources.

Coach Teresa says: “Wear the dual hats of writer and promoter. Reach out, not stress out.”

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan here . . .  This is why I love my work.

Writers of Science Fiction and Fantasy, check out Laurel Anne Hill; see how she builds her magnificent platform!

Laurel also thanks her mentor Charlotte Cook of KOMENAR Publishing. Heroes Arise, Laurel’s debut parable, was released in October 2007.  ForeWord Magazine selected Heroes Arise for a Book of the Year Award for 2007 (bronze, science fiction).

Laurel Anne Hill

Upcoming Events in 2013:

• May 24-27; BayCon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention, Hyatt Regency, Santa Clara, CA; Guest and panelist.
• June 8, 9, 10 & 15: San Mateo County Fair at San Mateo Fairgrounds, CA; Guest presenter.
• August 29 – September 2; World Science Fiction Convention, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, TX; Attending member.
• October 8-10; OryCon Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention, Lloyd Center Doubletree Inn, Portland, OR; Guest and panelist.
• October 31 – November 3; World Fantasy Convention, Brighton, England, Attending member.

Cheers to Laurel Anne Hill, Heroes Arise, author of science fiction and fantasy, writing contest sponsor, contributing author for anthologies!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

author of:

Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (the workbook)

Love Made of Heart (the mother-daughter novel used in college composition classes; book is archived at the San Francisco History Center)

Answer Me Now  (the award-winning short play)

and speeches advocating mental health and end violence against women and children

Click here for a list of Coach Teresa’s event.

http://writingcoachTeresa.com  for more resources. Coach Teresa says: “Wear the dual hats of writer and promoter. Reach out, not stress out.”

To see the list of all the branches of California Writers’ Club  http://calwriters.org

California Writers’ Club – San Francisco Peninsula Branch

May 18, 2013, 10:00 am

Belmont Public Library (just south of Ralston on Alameda de las Pulgas), Belmont, CA

This month’s speaker, author David Corbett, will speak on “The Art of Character: Creating Memorable Characters for Fiction, Film and TV.” The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at the Belmont Public Library.  $15 for CWC members and $18 for non-members. Students get in for $10 with a valid ID.  First Meeting Free!

For more information about David Corbett, visit

For directions and more information about the meeting and CWC, visit http://cwc-peninsula.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

California Writers’ Club – Redwood Branch

 Sunday afternoon, May 19, 2013, for the Redwood Writers 

Flamingo Hotel, 2777 Fourth St., Santa Rosa, CA

Author Support Group, 1:00-2:15 p.m. led by Deborah Taylor-French

Registration, Meet and Greet 2:30 p.m.

General Membership Meeting 3-5 p.m. – Meeting starts at 3 p.m. sharp!

Flamingo Hotel, Empire Rooms

2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95405-4795, (707) 545-8530

See our website for a map:  www.redwoodwriters.org

 Members $5;  nonmembers $8

“Five Things That Are Killing Your Story” with Jana McBurney-Lin

     In her decades of writing and editing fiction, Jana McBurney-Lin discovered there are five basic elements necessary to bring life into any story. Let her help you breathe life into yours. McBurney-Lin appears on Sunday, May 19 from 3-5 p.m.  Admission is $5 for members, $8 for nonmembers. Sponsored by Redwood Writers. For more information www.redwoodwriters.org

McBurney-Lin is the author of two acclaimed novels. My Half of the Sky (KOMENAR Publishing, 2006) received numerous awards, including Booksense Pick of the Month, Forbes Book Club Pick and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year (Honorable Mention). Her recently released novel, Blossoms and Bayonets (Redwood Publishing, 2012), is “suspenseful and deeply affecting,” according to best-selling novelist Caroline Leavitt.

##############

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

22-Day Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says:

“Build your writer’s platform and work on the craft, simultaneously with ease.  I’m cheering for you!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com  for Coach Teresa’s list of events; see how she helps her clients.

May 9, 2013

Today’s live webinar was so much fun! Nicole at Author Learning Center emailed me:

“Teresa, You did such a great job today! I could tell you were relaxed, yet poised! Your average score was an impressive 4.7  (out of 5.0)!  I look forward to doing this again in 3 weeks.”

Thank you, Nicole!  Thank you, Suzette!  Thank you to all the authors who attended and/or told their friends about the event. I look forward to delivering the webinar again, live, on May 28, 2013, 4:30pm Pacific Time / 7:30pm Eastern Time.

This webinar is focused on “3 Steps to Building Your Fanbase While Writing Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book” (by creating what I call your “platform statement”) with exercises from my workbook Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days - before and after publication.

For an in-depth study regarding facebook, etc., take a look at Social Media Just for Writers: The Best Online Marketing Tips for Selling Your Books by Frances Caballo.

Let me hear your platform statements again.  Email me:   WritingCoachTeresa  I’m at   gmail.com  

I’m cheering for you!

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

Coach Teresa Teaches Webinar –  3 Steps to Building Your Fanbase While Writing Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book

Free webinars for writers!    Please tell your friends!

To register:  https://www.authorlearningcenter.com

” Live Webinar – You’ll be hearing my voice and streaming my PowerPoint presentation on your computer!”

 3 Steps to Building Your Fanbase While Writing Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book, with Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

•          May 9, 2013 at 10:30am Pacific Time / 1:30pm Eastern Time
•         May 28, 2013 at  4:30pm Pacific Time / 7:30pm Eastern Time

Sincerely,

Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan

22-Day Writers’ Platform & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says:

“Build your writer’s platform and work on the craft, simultaneously with ease.  I’m cheering for you!”

http://writingcoachteresa.com  for Coach Teresa’s list of events; see how she helps her clients.

Next EBRPD public board meeting – Tuesday, May 21, 2013, 2:00pm,  2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA

Let’s all be there to express our concerns.  

When you  speak, our board members do listen.

Great slogans, let’s practice fairness too!   EBRPD Board Members, Please be fair to the Workers who walk the talk of “Healthy Parks Healthy People” at East Bay Regional Park District’s Open Space, Parks, and Trails in Alameda County and Contra Costa County, CA.

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

If you cannot voice your opinion in person at the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) public board meeting on Tuesday, May 7, 2013, 2:00pm (I shall be there by 1:00pm with coworkers) at 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, please use your mighty voices (before or after May 7th)  with your emails or regular mail.  Tell your friends and neighbors.   When you  speak, our board members do listen.

In the literacy community, I am known as Writing Coach Teresa who speaks up for public libraries and public schools.  I am also an employee of the East Bay Regional Park District.  My coworkers and I need your help if you believe in fairness.

Please join me in emailing the Park District board members (I’ve made it easy for you by providing their email addresses) and asking them to be fair to the workers who walk the talk/ who deliver what board members and management have pledged in the Park District’s  Core Mission statement ” and the Dedicated to Quality of Life Community Report: A Look Back at 2012; A Look Ahead to 2013 

While workers took hits to our take-home pay over the previous two-year contract, management gave themselves a raise (but called it a different name)

Workers’ buying power has eroded by 11.5% over the past four years.

We the workers care about our volunteers and everyone who visit us at our parks, trails and open space. We’re asking the board members to care about us by practicing fairness.

One simple email from you (to the folks listed below) would be greatly appreciated by me and my coworkers.

1. Pop the addresses into the “To” line of your email so that you’re sending only one email, not nine; depending on your email provider, you may have to add commas or semicolons to separate the addresses.
2. In the subject line, you might insert   “Park District Workers”
3. In the body of the email, express your experience at a regional park, trail, open space (or services you’ve received over the phone or email) and ask the board members to be fair to the workers who walk the talk of “Healthy Parks Healthy People”

“EBRPD Board President John Sutter” <jsutter@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD Board Vice President Ayn Wieskamp” <awieskamp@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD Board Secretary Ted Radke”  <tradke@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD Board Treasurer Whitney Dotson” <wdotson@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD Board Member Beverly Lane” <blane@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD Board Member Doug Siden” <dsiden@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD Board Member Carol Severin” <cseverin@ebparks.org>

“EBRPD GM Robert E. Doyle” <bdoyle@ebparks.org>

“AFSCME Local 2428 President Cliff Rocha” local2428negotiations@gmail.com  Tel:  510-566-5985

U.S. mailing address to Board Members and General Manager:    EBRPD Board, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605    1-888-EBPARKS (1-888-327-2757), extension 2020

U.S. mailing address to Local 2428 President Cliff Rocha:  Local 2428 East Bay Parks, 80 Swan Way, Suite 110, Oakland, CA 94621;   Tel:  510-566-5985

    embrace life!   Great slogans, let’s practice fairness too!

* * * * * * * * * * * *

 More information  from AFSCME Local 2428 East Bay Parks:

The AFSCME Local 2428 contract with the EBRPD expired on March 31, 2013 and the District declared an impasse seventeen days later on April 17, 2013.  Prior to impasse declaration, the Union had already filed an Unfair Practice Charge against the District for bad faith bargaining.

Our Rangers IIs are compensated at an average of nearly $6.00/hr. than their counterparts in other East Bay agencies. Our Senior Office Assistants are compensated at an average of nearly $5.00/hr. than comparable positions.

We the Union Employees are seeking a three-year contract that keeps pace with inflation and provides for wage increases that would offset any additional contributions made to retirement while maintaining current health insurance benefits.

The District can well afford a fair contract.  Revenues continue to grow and exceed expenses–boosting a healthy General Fund balance to levels equal to 48% of budget.

While workers took hits to our take-home pay over the previous two-year contract, management gave themselves a raise (but called it a different name)

Workers’ buying power has eroded by 11.5% over the past four years.

Workers were given only two 1% COLA over the past four years;  the 1% didn’t even go into effect until April 1, 2012 which was the second year of the two-year contract that ended March 31, 2013 . . .  while CPI were:

2010  2.4%

2011  2.1%

2012  3.5%

2013  2.4%

These figures are confirmed by  http://www.bls.gov/ro9/9240.pdf

The Park District Board approved “Affirming that Retiree Health Benefits Provided to Management and Confidential Employees Hired or Promoted before January 1, 2003 Were Intended to Be and Are Vested in Said Employees”

while imposing a contract to Workers that:

* offers no wage increases

* forces Employees to pay 2% more toward retirement in violation of the new pension law

* attacks Employees’ rights to vested benefits such as retiree medical

* forces Employees to pay even more for health insurance

According to Approved Minutes Board Meeting Dec. 4, 2012

C-1-d. Affirming that Retiree Health Benefits Provided to Management and Confidential 
Employees Hired or Promoted before January 1, 2003 Were Intended to Be and 
Are Vested in Said Employees
Resolution No. 2012 – 12 – 277 

According to Approved Minutes Board Meeting Dec. 4, 2012

C-1-e. Approval to Modify Management Job Classifications, Titles and Salary Ranges Within the Planning/Stewardship and Development Division

Resolution No. 2012 – 12 – 278 
Director Siden asked why it was necessary to take action today since the study results are still pending.

AGM Mike Anderson explained that staff is trying to get the Chief of Stewardship position filled;

GM Doyle added that it will take some time to go through the hiring process and staff would like the new Chief to be involved in the reorganization process.

According to Approved Minutes Board Meeting August 14, 2012

C-1-z. Approval to Establish the Classification of and the Salary Range for Accounting Manager 

Resolution No. 2012 – 08 – 213 
By motion of Director Wieskamp and seconded by Director Dotson, the Board voted unanimously to adopt Item C-1-z.

Directors Present: Whitney Dotson, Beverly Lane, Carol Severin, Doug Siden, John Sutter, Ayn Wieskamp.
Directors Absent: Ted Radke.

Cliff Rocha, President of AFSCME local 2428, proposed an alternative to the new Accounting Manager position
discussed at Meet and Confer that will keep the position within the bargaining unit to create an opportunity for
promotion for existing union members. At the same time, it would allow work to be done for less cost.
Mr. Rocha provided the current job description of the Assistant Finance Officer to the Board, who he indicated
is responsible for preparing the CAFR.

Brenda Wood, Business Agent for AFSCME Local 2428, asked the Board to vote against this item as the Union
has concerns that the internal process for a new job description was not followed.

Matt Harray, Water Management Assistant, stated that this proposal for a new position lacks vision, and that
Management should fix the District infrastructure.

Sue Kyle, Administrative Analyst, stated that there will be a change in FTE’s contrary to what was written in the
material and that there is no available funding for this position.

AGM Collins stated that the Board material explained that the District has expanded in capacity and complexity
in the past 30 years. CFO Rubaloff responded that there are three managerial positions and explained their
current and expected duties.

Director Wieskamp added that the Assistant Finance Officer has done a tremendous job and sees the need for
the reorganization and that any reorganization plan will still be discussed with the Union. Director Sutter
commented that he has tremendous respect for the CFO and is convinced that there is need to have someone
prepare the CAFR.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

AFSCME Local 2428 East Bay Parks

We are the more than 600 park district employees who are responsible for designing and maintaining park lands and trails; developing naturalist and stewardship programs; and providing fire protection and water safety at the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD).

President: Cliff Rocha
Vice President:Mark Pearson
Secretary: Christina Garcia
Treasurer: Sue Kyle

Eboard At Large
Sharon Corkin
Matthew Harray
William Nichols
Sergeant-At-Arms
Dave Kalahele

Trustees
Marie Arnerich
Donna Cuoco
Greg Mueller

Business Agent - Brenda Wood

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Writing Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan Asking You to Please Use Your Mighty Voices to Ask EBRPD Board Members to Be Fair to Workers.

Thank  you!